Background and Dramatis Personae

5.The background to the action and its Dramatis Personae are so well known that little need be said about them, save that Irving does wish to draw the Court of Appeal's attention to the intimidating atmosphere of hysterical press hostility in which the trial took place, whipped up in particular by The Guardian, which is a defendant in separate proceedings brought by Irving against one Gitta Sereny and Guardian Newspaper Limited. Despite repeated entreaties from Irving, Gray J did nothing to restrain these journalistic excesses.